Visiting Angels

Home Nursing and Personal Care Provider in Niagara, Toronto, Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville

1-877-239-4397
nurse@visitingangels.ca
 
Canadian Owned & Operated
Head Office: St. Catharines

Hamilton’s Kids-Fest | WIN 2 Tickets (Draw Date: Feb. 16, 2017)

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Show Dates – February 18, 19, 20, 2017

Family Day Weekend
WIN 2 Tickets to the Hamilton Kids-Fest 2017
1 Unlimited All Day Ride Band and 1 Adult Admission

For A Chance To Win:

1. Visit our Facebook Page and Like or Share and Comment on the AD that is posted for the giveaway.

2. Visit our Website and Fill out the form.

Draw Date: February 16, 2017 (Thursday) 5pm
Winners Will be Emailed and posted on our Facebook Page and on our Website.

Address:
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
9280 Airport Road, Hamilton, ON

Like us on Facebook

www.Kid-Fest.ca

Winter is coming!

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A lot of us have older parents or relatives who are very high functioning, but winter can cause them un-do hardship often because they do not want to ask for help. There’s a few key activities you can help them with to reduce the risk of them being injured and to see them a little more often.

Outdoor winter upkeep, like shovelling, can be hard on the back and joints even when there is relatively little snow. Especially when you are aware a storm may hit, call your relative and offer to come shovel for them (or offer your children to, etc). If they don’t like to receive simply your help, offer to do it with them, or make an “exchange” such as you’re coming to shovel, but you expect to be able to drink a hot cup of coffee with them after.

Another winter hardship is driving. We’re not telling you not to let them drive, but you can make them more prepared for winter and it’s hazards. Remind them to make sure to switch over to winter tires and if they don’t have one either buy or assemble an emergency safety kit for if they get stuck on the side of the road, in a ditch, or in any other situation. Your kit should include: blankets, an extra coat and change or clothing, non-perishable food (think granola bars, etc), water, a flashlight, extra batteries and anything which would fit their unique needs.

Here are some additional tips for seniors this upcoming winter season:
https://www.care.com/c/stories/5447/7-winter-safety-tips-for-seniors/

Stay safe and enjoy the holidays!

Tips for the Unexpected Caregiver

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Raise your hand if you do any of the following: drive a loved one to a doctor’s visit, make meals for this loved one, help this loved one make medical decisions or call this person regularly to check on them. Unbeknownst to you, you’ve become a family caregiver. Whether you live with your loved one or not, you’re investing hours and hours of your time to support your loved one with their daily activities because they may be too weak or too sick to help themselves.

Don’t worry. You’re not alone. According to caregiveraction.org, there are more than 65 million people providing care for a chronically ill, disabled or aging family member or friend. With that, these people are spending an average of 20 hours per week helping this loved one. It’s estimated that the cost of such caregiving adds up to about $375 billion a year – about twice as much as is spent on a home care and nursing home services combined, according to the National Alliance for Caregiving and Evercare.

Here are some tips to provide comfortable care if you’ve unknowingly become your loved one’s caregiver.

For physical support:

.       Ask them to describe any pain they may feel on a scale of 0 to 10.
.       Write these things down for the next doctor’s visit
.       Once at the doctor’s office, be sure to write down the answers and keep them in a journal so you can look it up later if your loved one is in pain.

For emotional support:

.       Spend a few moments every day talking to your loved one about their feelings.
.       Be supportive by letting them know it’s OK to feel the way they feel, do not talk them out of their feelings.
.       If your loved one expresses the desire to talk to a counselor or spiritual leader, don’t discourage them. Help them find the best person to speak with about their feelings.

For self-care:

.       Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Make a list of things you need help
with such as grocery shopping or housecleaning.
.       Make sure you take the time out to exercise and eat healthy when
you’re on break from caregiving.
.       It’s possible that you may feel anxiety or grief yourself in the situation. Don’t hesitate to speak with a physician or therapist, or join a support group so you aren’t feeling alone in your caregiving.

Visit www.caregiving.org/resources for more information

Nutrition and the Elderly

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As health complications arise that may make it harder for the elderly to eat, their nutrition often takes a serious hit; one which can be extremely detrimental to their overall health, or if gone unwatched, deadly.

It is essential that the elderly are eating. This may sound silly, but as many get sicker with other diseases such as dementia, Alzheimer’s, or painful or debilitating injuries the preparation and consumption of food can quickly drop off. They may simply not remember they haven’t eaten that day or the amount of effort which would go into preparing or purchasing food may be impossible.

Making sure that the elderly are eating the proper foods is the next stage. Although some foods may be tough or too time consuming to make or eat there are many options. The important thing is to ensure that they are getting the essential nutrients provided by fruits, vegetables, and meat. Calcium is also necessary to help maintain bone strength and density.

Find what your loved one enjoys to eat and then ways to make that attainable for them. Even if that means mass prepping food for the week so that it can easily be reheated.

Finding a way to meet everyone’s needs

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In my time working for Visiting Angels, I rarely went a day without being surprised by potential clients calling in wondering if we provided strange (to me, anyhow) services; but if there’s something our company has proved it’s that we’ll do just about anything we can to be of help.

Visiting Angels services the Niagara Region and GTA, largely helping with the elderly who wish to continue to live in their own home, those who need special attention in assisted living, and those who live with family but still need help or monitoring for medications. We also spend a significant amount of time in homes with people of all ages who have found themselves with a permanent or long-term illness or sickness, such as discovering they have MS to a few weeks of care following a more serious car accident.

Our staff cooks, cleans, provides companionship, and works to give our clients the best quality of life they can medically have. We offer specialized training for aiding brain injury patients to help them achieve the best outcomes and to celebrate those small (but amazing) achievements. We provide long term and short term care and even do our best to match your needs and personality with our staff.

We even cater to children and infants through our company Babysitting Angels. By running the two companies together, we’re able to help children who are sick thanks to our dedicated nursing staff.

We aren’t just at home care, we’re care with a loving, angels touch.

Are you a stress addict?

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It might sound strange, but over the last 10 years, more and more experts have come to the conclusion that some of the most stressed people are actually creating much of the stress for themselves because they actually thrive on it. As humans, we can become hooked on that stressed feeling without even realizing it’s happening, some stress can be good for us, but too much stress can be detrimental to our overall health.

How can we become hooked on stress? Well, when you’re stressed your body releases certain chemicals, such as adrenaline which allows you to kick your body into a more productive mode. Short term, this can be a great solution. Life will always happen and occasionally a project for work, school, family will slip to the last minute and this is your bodies way of coping. However, if you find that you’re constantly creating this feeling for yourself, this could be an issue.

Praise is another way we can become hooked on stress. When we’re constantly praised for the fact that we take on every task, even at last minute or when the odds are against us, we can find ourselves continuing to take on these type of stressful projects for the image it allows us to share with others. This constant stress however begins to take a toll on us in a variety of aspects from overall health, to less sleep, to less time with our families (which for most people, is actually a stress reliever). By tying our self-worth to completing these tasks we create a perpetual, stressful cycle.

So how do you change your stress addict ways? Break the cycle. Learn to say no when you’re already carrying stress. Start projects earlier and use time management to do it piece by piece around other important aspects of your life rather than instead of them. Make time each day to do something that relieves stress, whether that’s chatting on the phone to a loved one or friend, playing a game of squash, relaxing with your favourite television show or reading the newspaper. Find an activity that allows you to relax and recognize that the stress you’ve become hooked on, doesn’t need to control your life and your health.

Osteoporosis (Seriously, the word “women” isn’t in there anywhere!)

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For years older men have felt safe from the risk of Osteoporosis, a medical condition in which the bones become brittle and fragile from loss of tissue. Although women are more susceptible to osteoporosis men are by no means safe from the condition.

It’s equally as important that men are screened for the condition, especially if they are displaying symptoms. Listed below are the major and minor risk factors for Osteoporosis as provided by the Ontario Osteoporosis Strategy.

Major risk factors

  •  Age 65 or older
  •  Vertebral compression fracture
  •  Fracture with minimal trauma after age 40
  •  Family history of osteoporotic fracture (especially if your mother had a hip fracture)
  •  Long-term (more than 3 months continuously) use of glucocorticoid therapy such as prednisone
  •  Medical conditions (such as celiac disease, Crohn’s disease) that inhibit absorption of nutrients
  •  Primary hyperparathyroidism
  •  Tendency to fall
  •  Osteopenia apparent on x-ray
  •  Hypogonadism (low testosterone in men, loss of menstrual periods in younger women)
  •  Early menopause (before age 45).

Minor risk factors

  •  Rheumatoid arthritis
  •  Hyperthyroidism
  •  Prolonged use of anticonvulsants
  •  Prolonged heparin use
  •  Body weight less than 57 kg (125 lbs.)
  •  If your present weight is more than 10% below your weight at age 25
  •  Low calcium intake
  •  Excess caffeine (consistently more than 4 cups a day of coffee, cola or some energy drinks)
  •  Excess alcohol (consistently more than 2 drinks a day)
  •  Smoker.

If you are positive for a variety of these factors a discussion with your doctor may be warranted. Osteoporosis can leave you vulnerable for bone fractures and breaks which could complicate other medical conditions.

A Twinkle in your Wrinkle

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Have you ever looked at the calendar and wondered how what feels like just yesterday is actually months, or even years in the past? Aging sneaks up on all of us; as does many of the concerns that come with it, specifically those concerning our health. While we can’t avoid aging and all its wonders, we can learn to enjoy the experiences we have on the way and to cope with new challenges as they arise.

Visiting Angels Inc is a healthcare provider based in the Niagara Region committed to making the process of aging as painless as possible. Our company is comprised of a dedicated team of kind hearted professionals whose goal is to provide you or your loved one with the quality of care you expect and deserve. Visiting Angels has a staff with a variety of certifications meant to fit every client’s needs including registered nurses, registered practical nurses, personal support workers, health care aids, homemakers, social workers, child care workers and others at affordable rates.

Aging isn’t a process we can ignore, but it is one that is greatly affected by how we view it. Visiting Angels is here to assure that as our clients get older they maintain the best quality of life possible. We offer home care, personal care, palliative care, and medicine administration 24 hours a day. We are also equipped to handle brain and spinal injuries, post-operation recovery, and simply to provide companionship and help with everyday living activities such as laundry and meal preparation.

So how can you stay happy as you age? Try out a few of these tips:

Embrace it. The experiences we have at every age of our life are unique and won’t happen again. Enjoy them and look forward to your future.

Stay as active as possible. Even if it’s just a stroll around the block or dinner with a friend, keeping in contact with the world around you is important.

Spend time outside! Sunshine will do wonders for your mood.

Remember the importance of family and reach out to them often.

Get involved! Be it charity work, joining a book club, playing a sport or whatever tickles your fancy, it’s important to keep interacting with people and making connections.

Call 905-685-4242 or email nurse@visitingangels.ca for more information on how to keep that twinkle in your wrinkle and maintain the quality of life you deserve as you age.

Home Care or Facility Care? The Daunting Choice Families Make Everyday

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Choosing the right type of care for your loved one can seem like a daunting task, but if you take a look at these tips it might seem a whole lot simpler. And remember, what the best decision is can be different for everyone.

DO take what your loved one wants into consideration.

DO talk to multiple home care providers and facilities.

DO ask your loved one what they feel their needs are.

DON’T make decisions without consulting your loved one if they have the capacity to make for them self.

DON’T choose the cheapest company just because their rates are lowest.

DON’T only consider home care or facilities.

Home care or a facility?

This is the big question with most families. If your loved one is adamant they want to stay in their own home, sometimes the best decision is to allow them to do that with the aid of home care. However, patients who need round the clock medical care and are in a position where they should be close to a doctor or medical staff at all times should likely be moved to a health care facility.

The benefits of Home Care:

Home care allows your loved one to maintain much of their independence by providing them aid in doing everyday tasks. Advanced home care can easily be provided including administration of medication, meal preparation, and help with every day activities as well as running errands and attending appointments.

When it comes down to it, the best choice is the one both your family and loved one agree on. If they feel uncomfortable leaving their home for a care facility, we’d recommend trying home care initially, but if it fails to meet the quality of care dictated by their condition, moving them into a facility is always the right choice.

When is it time to offer your loved one extended help? Tips for having that conversation

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It can be a difficult conversation to have when you need to suggest to your loved one that they may need extended help, whether that’s more help than they can provide themselves or more than you are able to provide. It becomes increasingly more difficult when a traumatic accident hasn’t happened, such as a fall resulting in an injury or a diagnosis of a disease. When it’s simply old age that creeps up on our loved ones, often it’s difficult for them, and even for us, to admit they need help.

Our advice is simple; don’t wait for that traumatic accident. Have the conversation before the fall that breaks their leg or before you notice signs of malnutrition or the reappearance of symptoms if they happen to be forgetting medication. Although the conversation can be uncomfortable, it can also be a lot less scary if it’s done ahead of time.

Here are some tips on when to start that conversation, what to say, and how to achieve the best outcome for everyone:

Tip #1: Start the Conversation Early

Don’t wait for a traumatic event. As soon as you start seeing signs that your loved one may be struggling, suggest help, even if that help is just you.

If possible, start the conversation before you’re seeing these signs, sit down with your loved one and ask them what their expectations for the future are, if they’d ever consider moving to a retirement community or even a nursing home. It’s often best to know up front if your loved one is determined to remain independent in their own home rather than dealing with the emotional rush of an argument later on.

Tip #2: Be Calm and Respectful

Let’s be honest, you’d probably be more than a smidge upset if someone called you “old” or said that you couldn’t do things for yourself anymore, so try to understand that they won’t love the concept either. Be calm, be rationale, and take their opinion into consideration.

Ask them what they feel they need help with. They may surprise you with their ability to give up some of the responsibility around the home that could be endangering them, such as lifting heavy objects or mowing the lawn which can be hard on the neck, back, and shoulders. They may admit that the house isn’t as clean as it used to be or that they can’t clean certain places due to mobility limitations.

Tip #3: “You say you don’t need help with anything, Dad?”

Not everyone is going to roll over and admit they need help; sometimes you need to watch behaviour. If they’re struggling, offer a hand. If they aren’t, don’t. Empower them to do all the things they can do.

Tip #4: Start Small

Using phrases like, “I noticed it’s not as easy for you as it used to be to do _____________, if you’d like I could come and do _______ for you next weekend, we can grab coffee or something after.” By phrasing it as if you want to spend more time with them, they’re unlikely to turn you down.

You can also trying asking to complete tougher tasks with your loved one, such as gardening or doing house or handy work together.

When you say phrases like, “Common, you can’t do that anymore. Just stop, you’re going to hurt yourself!” While it might be true, your loved one is likely to feel a little attacked. You’re insulting their strength, their independence, and you’re not being calm. All of these are more likely to start an argument than to keep your loved one safe.

Tip #5: If you’re Not Enough Care, Admit it.

If you’re already helping your loved one, but it’s too much for you, admit that to both yourself and to them. There’s no sense becoming ill yourself from lack of sleep, injuring yourself, or losing your job.

If you’re going to bring in someone to work with your loved one, discuss it with them first. Tell them that you want them to have the best care possible and that you are bringing in someone to help out when you can’t be around or when tasks are too hard on your own physical limitations. Let them know how much it would mean to you if they were willing to at least give it a try.

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PSW, RN and RPN – Apply Today

Send your resume to nurse@visitingangels.ca

 

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